What else had happened the farmer did not know, only that the brave Blücher, with tears streaming down his cheeks, had been forced to surrender Lübeck.
As for the King, the farmer had heard that he had gone to Custrin; but he also had heard that Custrin was among the forts which had surrendered. At all events, the beer being now at an end, he had no more time to talk, but arose to return to his barn.
Hans asked him to let Bettina remain until in the afternoon, when he would return for her. Then off he departed also.
The farmer's wife touched her head.
"Grief has crazed him," she said to herself. "It is cruel to drag that child about this country."
Bettina ate a nice warm dinner with the farmer and his wife, and then was put back to bed again.
"A queer little thing," said the wife to her husband. "Poor little lamb!" The tears filled her eyes. "She thinks old Frederick Barbarossa will come from his cave to save us!"
The farmer laughed and told his wife what to charge Hans, for he might not see him again.
It was in the late afternoon when the old man returned.
"We must be off at once," he announced.